29. Chapter 29

Chapter 29

-Jared-

I anticipated that it would take some time for Alison to overcome the deception and betrayal I had subjected her to. Even though she had tried to distract me with her tender gestures, thinking she could then slip away unnoticed, she was sorely mistaken. I made it abundantly clear that I wouldn't be swayed so easily.

The day was already drawing to a close, yet I chose to seclude myself, determined to devise a plan independently to dismantle the wolves. However, each idea I formulated seemed to lead to my potential demise. Unlike my usual operations where Vince would handle much of the groundwork—research, scouting locations, providing cover—I found myself without his assistance this time.

Moreover, I harbored doubts about entrusting Astrid completely to assist me in eliminating her own father. After all, he was her flesh and blood. Lost in contemplation, I found myself staring blankly at my computer screen, unable to make progress.

Alison's soft whimper broke the silence after some time, drawing my attention to her presence. I watched her lying naked on the bed, face down with her wrists and ankles bound to the bedposts, the collar still snug around her neck. Despite her initial resistance, she had ultimately relented.

However, I wasn't willing to take any chances of her attempting to escape. Since her recovery restricted my usual methods of discipline, I had opted for a vulnerable yet controlled position to remind her of my authority over her. The thought of her contemplating fleeing during our brief embrace still incensed me, and the fury lingered within me.

She called out to me again, tugging at her restraints, and from my vantage point, I couldn't help but notice her alluring figure shifting, her pert backside swaying with each movement. The anger that simmered within me transformed into an intense desire to indulge in her forbidden hole, a pleasure reserved solely for our encounters—a notion that thrilled the dark side of me.

However, I acknowledged that she may require some training, considering the considerable passage of time since we last did it. Despite desire coursing through me, I knew she wasn't fully recovered, thus she remained beyond my reach, at least for the moment.

Turning my attention back to the computer screen in an attempt to focus, I was interrupted by the clinking of her restraints as she shifted. Straining to catch a glimpse of me, her efforts were met with limited success, yet her eyes burned with the same fierce determination as before. It pleased me to see her spirit remained unbroken, although I knew it wouldn't aid her cause this time.

"I've been lying here for an hour!" she hissed impatiently.

"I'm aware," I responded calmly.

"Can you release me now?" she pleaded.

"No," was my curt reply.

"Jared!"

Ignoring her protests, I suddenly found inspiration strike. Realizing that any attempts at work would be futile in my current state of distraction, I retrieved my sketchbook from a nearby drawer. While she had been absent, I had filled its pages with depictions of Alison, but now, with her before me, I had a living muse. Observing my actions, Alison's confusion gave way to understanding as she watched me settle back onto the couch, positioning myself to capture her essence on paper.

"Oh, come on!" she yelled indignantly. "You can't possibly draw me like this!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at her protest—it was precisely my intention.

"Jared!" she hissed, her frustration obvious.

Ignoring her continued objections, I watched as she relented, allowing her head to sink back onto the mattress. Perhaps this would finally teach her something, but I knew our lives were destined to be intriguing because she never surrendered.

As Alison shifted once more, her movements inadvertently accentuated her curves, sending a surge of need through me. With her laid out before me, every inch of her exposed, I continued my work undeterred. There was a sense of tranquility in this act, reminiscent of bygone days when I sketched her in secret, each stroke a form of silent torture. But now, I drew her simply because I could, driven by the desire to immortalize this moment.

Adding intricate details to the outline of her body, I paused as inspiration struck once more. With a newfound fervor, I began sketching a spontaneous addition around her small heart tattoo between her shoulders. My hand moved with unprecedented speed, effortlessly translating the vision in my mind onto the paper. Holding up the finished sketch, I glanced from it to Alison. It was a perfect depiction of the moment.

I lowered the paper, exhilarated by my creative inspiration and feeling a surge of positivity wash over me. Pushing myself off the couch, I approached Alison, who strained to catch a glimpse of me but could only manage a limited view. Slipping in behind her, I crept up to the foot of the bed, planting a tender kiss on the back of her thigh, causing her to startle. Her reaction betrayed her expectation of something else.

"Still thinking about escaping?" I queried, my tone laced with skepticism.

"N-No," she stammered.

"I'm not entirely convinced," I remarked, pressing another kiss to her opposite thigh.

As I trailed my lips up her bare skin, she quivered beneath my touch, her sweet curves captivating me. With a gentle caress, I explored the softness of her ass cheeks before teasingly nipping at one, earning a gasp of surprise from her. Continuing my journey along her body, I placed tender kisses along her smooth back, pausing to linger over the tattoo.

"Does this carry any significance?" I inquired, running a finger over the delicate design.

She shook her head. "None, except that my mother despised tattoos."

"Another act of defiance, like your smoking," I mused aloud, to which she nodded in agreement.

"And it's rather beautiful," she added softly.

I silently concurred, though I refrained from vocalizing my agreement, and continued to trace the slightly faded mark, noting how the ink had dulled over time. Leaning in, I peppered her shoulders with kisses, eliciting contented sighs from her as I lavished her with the affection she secretly craved. Despite her current denial of wanting my presence, we both understood that her desire for me would never truly dissipate.

"Shall I tie us together tonight?" I teased.

"What?"

"Like we did at Vince's house. Shall we sleep bound to each other?" I clarified.

She shook her head. "No, it made it impossible to get comfortable."

"Yet you managed to fall asleep nonetheless," I countered with a chuckle.

"I couldn't move!" she protested.

"Exactly," I replied. "That was the point. Besides, today's events have proven that your loyalty to me isn't as steadfast as you claim."

"What?" she exclaimed, her tone defensive. "I'm the one who desired you all those years."

"And now that you have me, you still contemplated fleeing," I pointed out.

"You wanted to destroy me!"

Leaning closer, casting a shadow over her, I made it difficult for her to meet my gaze.

"But did I?" I countered softly. "Or did I offer you a life with me? I can make your dreams a reality, and yet you considered running from that."

"A dream remains a dream for a reason," she murmured.

"If you're implying it's merely a fantasy, you're mistaken. Dreams can manifest into reality, and you have the opportunity to achieve what you've always desired. Yet, you contemplated fleeing just an hour ago."

She grumbled something into the bed, likely muttering an inappropriate name for me, but she needed to come to terms with the present reality. I nipped at her shoulder, drawing her attention back to me.

"So?" I pressed.

"What?" she responded, slightly flustered.

"Do I have a reason to bind us together, or can I trust you not to attempt an escape?" I inquired.

Her momentary hesitation spoke volumes. "Very well, then you'll spend the night like this," I decided.

"What?" she exclaimed. "I can't possibly sleep like this. My arms are tingling!"

I couldn't help but smile at her choice of words. If I couldn't rely on her complete loyalty, then she would remain restrained for the duration of our time here.

"You made this choice," I reminded her, straddling her waist and leaning back.

"W-Where will you sleep?" she asked, her voice betraying a hint of anxiety.

"I have another room," I assured her.

She tensed beneath me, the color draining from her face, a reaction that puzzled me. Why did she appear so frightened?

"With... With Astrid?" she murmured.

"What? No!" I exclaimed. "I'll be in my own room."

Her sigh of relief confused me further. She attempted to flee from me, yet she appeared unsettled at the thought of me being near another woman. Alison's current state of mind was perplexing, but I understood that transitions could be complicated.

"So I think I'll go rest there now," I stated.

"No!" she insisted firmly.

I chuckled softly, trailing a hand down her naked back, causing her to shiver beneath my touch.

"You're the one who doesn't want to be near me. Just say the word, and I'll release you before we cuddle again," I offered.

Using the word "cuddle" felt strange, yet now I always slept with Alison in my arms. As she had pointed out, it ensured that no one could reach her and that she couldn't escape from me. Besides, seeing her smile as she slept peacefully in my embrace brought me a sense of contentment. I longed to witness that endearing gesture once more, but she needed to acknowledge her desire for my presence.

She muttered something indistinct again, but I suspected those words were more of a contemplation spoken aloud. I waited patiently for her decision while she buried her face in the mattress. Eventually, she nodded, almost bumping her forehead against the bed.

"What?" I prompted, needing a clear affirmation.

"Okay," she whispered, lifting her head slightly. "I won't go anywhere."

I smiled, reaching for one of her restraints. However, as I released one of her arms, she swiftly twisted, seizing me and sinking her teeth into my skin. Though it didn't cause me much pain, her intention wasn't entirely clear. I remained still, perplexed by her actions as she held on, her teeth piercing the skin slightly just above my wrist. She maintained her grip for some time before finally releasing me, licking her lips as she examined the mark. I watched as she inspected it closely, noticing a faint bruise forming and the unmistakable imprint of her teeth etched into my skin. Had she... marked me?

"You're cruel, and I hate you," she whispered, then extended her wrist as if inviting me to secure her to the bed once more.

She buried her face into the mattress, her actions continuing to confuse me. It seemed she hadn't fully processed our earlier conversation, yet she unmistakably laid claim to me. It brought a twisted satisfaction, the feeling of being claimed, possessed, and valued. The word "taken" felt unfamiliar on my tongue, yet thinking it stirred a profound sense of fulfillment within me. It was as if my deep-seated abandonment issues had found solace in her claim over me.

But how could I leave her alone when she so clearly desired my presence? Despite her lingering fury and feelings of betrayal, I found myself no longer angry. Her actions spoke louder than her words.

I began releasing her from her restraints, surprising her as she felt the bindings disappear. Unlocking her ankles and wrists, I granted her the freedom to move. She rolled her head around, attempting to ease the strain from her neck.

I placed the restraints on the ground as I knew they would soon be needed again. Leaning toward Alison, I drew her back to me as I settled against the headboard. She grumbled a bit, but deep down, we both understood the truth: she had marked me, indicating her unwillingness to truly let me go.

"You don't hate me," I whispered into her ear.

"I do. I utterly hate you," she insisted.

"You hate how much you love me. We've already discussed this," I reminded her gently.

She cursed under her breath, and I began to tease her skin, running the tip of my finger over one of her nipples. I heard her hiss in response before her eyes fluttered closed in pleasure. Moving to the other nipple, I circled it slowly, relishing the sensation of having her body under my control once more.

"Once you're strong enough, we'll make up for lost time," I purred softly in her ear.